Ahead of the all-important World Cup quarter-final clash between England and Sweden, we take a look at the Three Lions’ four most recent last-eight clashes in football’s most prestigious tournament.
Ahead of the all-important World Cup quarter-final clash between England and Sweden, Billy Cundall takes a look at the Three Lions’ four most recent last-eight clashes in football’s most prestigious tournament.
1st July 2006 – England v Portugal (FIFA World Cup Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany) LOST 0-0 (PENS 1-3)
England’s most recent appearance in a World Cup quarter-final came in Germany, 12 years ago. The scene was set for Sven Goran Erikson’s ‘golden generation’’ to step up and bring a close to forty years of hurt, but all did not go to plan.
Just two years on from European Championship heartache against the very same side, where the Three Lions crashed out on penalties, England looked set to seek revenge. In a rapturous atmosphere in a stadium overrun with England fans, the mood was right for the boys in white to progress to the last four.
However, after a lacklustre performance that saw neither team hit their peak, England were reduced to 10. The now all-time top goal scorer and then boy-wonder Wayne Rooney was given his marching orders after a tangle with Ricardo Carvalho. England looked to be down and out, but the proverbial ‘12th man’ became England’s 11th and the Three Lions valiantly fought on. Moments of quality were hard to come by, and the sinking emotion of dread came seeping in with the game destined for penalty kicks.
And penalty kicks it was. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all saw their penalties saved, and thus the curse continued and England were condemned to heartbreak once more.
21st June 2002 – England v Brazil (Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan) - LOST 2-1
In the land of the rising sun, England faced a star-studded Brazilian side seemingly destined for world glory after their agonising loss in the final of France ’98.
If you thought dream starts were a myth, look back at England’s first 25 minutes of this one. A Michael Owen opener sent the country into morning chaos amidst the hope of winning their first World Cup since ’66. But all did not end rosy…
A Rivaldo equaliser on the stroke of half time followed by one of the most iconic goals England have ever conceded, which saw Ronaldinho lob goalkeeper David Seamen from a wide and deep free-kick that ensured Brazil's passage into the semi-finals. Another disappointment, another four years of hurt.
1st July 1990 – England v Cameroon (Sadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy) - WON 3-2 (AET)
Italia ’90. England were building momentum. Lineker was scoring goals, and with a side driven by the enigmatic Paul Gascoigne, the sky seemed the limit for the Three Lions. Sir Bobby Robson was the genius at the helm, making no secret of his burning desire to win the World Cup with his country.
England had the ideal start when David Platt put Robson’s men ahead, but two Cameroon goals in four crazy second half minutes saw the Three Lions staring down the brink of elimination. England rallied, and in the 83rd minute they were handed a penalty lifeline. Gary Lineker dispatched the kick and the game headed into extra-time. The tense first half ended with yet another penalty for the English, and for the second time in the game, Lineker buried from 12 yards and fired England into their first semi-final since 1966.
The country was jubilant, but a semi-final loss on penalties to West Germany broke the nation’s hearts and England’s wait for World Cup glory went on.
22nd June 1986 – England v Argentina (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico) - LOST 2-1
Perhaps the most controversial and painful quarter-final for an English fan. This game produced three of the most iconic words in football – ‘Hand of God’. Diego Maradona famously handled the ball past the on-rushing Peter Shilton, after a brilliant individual opener to put the Argentines 2-0 up. Gary Lineker scored a consolation, but it was the handball that separated the two sides on that fateful day in Mexico.
Maradona was quoted after the game as saying that the goal was not his hand, but the 'hand of God', which sparked mass anger towards the controversial striker, but consequently the Argentinians went on to win the tournament, helping cement Maradona's place as a legend in South American history.
Other quarter-final appearances for England:
- 14 June 1970 - England v West Germany (Estadio Nou Camp, León, Mexico) - LOST 3-2 (AET)
- 23 July 1966 - England v Argentina (Wembley Stadium, London, England) - WON 1-0
- 10 June 1962 - England v Brazil (Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile) - LOST 3-1
- 26 June 1954 - England v Uruguay (St. Jakob Stadium, Basel, Switzerland) - LOST4-2
Record - P8 W2 L6
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